Dance and music come together. This is an undeniable fact of life. More than being art forms organized around rhythmic patterns, both are bonded by two very beautiful things together: emotion, and the desire for expression. This is what makes us close our eyes, feel the beat, and—as the cliche goes—dance like no one is watching. This is what makes us let go while in a club (with or without the help of alcohol, mind you) and just have a good time.

Music and movement are something that one particular roster of DJs seems to totally understand. Aptly called Groove Manila, the group recognizes that playing dance music results in things that "kind of just happens;" no set of songs played at two different times would yield to the same energy, vibe, and emotion exuded and expressed by a crowd.

"Everything's organic." Abdel Aziz said. "[Choosing the songs to play in a set] is a mix of personal taste in music and good judgment...It's also about the ability to react accordingly to the crowd on the dance floor."

"It depends on your biorhythm that night, the vibe, reaction, your connection with the crowd," added Manolet Dario. "It's rare that you get to follow it track by track, but you have some songs there that you want to push. But the tricky part is which part of your set do you put that in? It's always a gamble. The first track that you play will always set the pace of your set - depending if you're starting, if you're in the middle, or closing the night."

And now they're bringing this knowledge and their expertise out of the four walls of a club and into a music festival. Groove Manila is bringing dance music to the first day of the Philippines' first theme park music festival, Karpos Multimedia's Salo-Salo Fest.

But is dance music played in a club different from the ones they'll be playing at the festival's dance tent, Goody Dance Shoes? How did they curate the talents who will be performing? Has the pandemic changed the way they viewed making people dance? And what do they think of "DJ requests"?

 

 

 

 

 

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Ahead of their Salo-salo Fest stint, we sat down with Groove Manila's Manolet Dario, Abdel Aziz, Jason Soong, and John Monreal to discuss.

Abdel Aziz: We pick them based on their individual musical flavor, and their ability to handle and react accordingly on a varying crowd within the dance floor.

Jason Soong: It's very casual, organic. Me and Mano can just be hanging out, we think this DJ is good. But more than anything, we gotta be friends. Then we just add them to the group chat.

Why do you think there are songs that work with anyone and everyone and songs that only work with a certain group?

Abdel Aziz: Songs work depending on the type of crowd you have gathered or you're in. Think of it as varying cultures from various countries, pretty much the same banana. If I play drum & bass, jungle, and garage in UK, that fits perfectly. But if I do the same thing here in the Philippines, not everyone will get it since our culture is heavily influenced by the United States.

Do you have a go-to song that every crowd likes? What it is? 

Jason Soong: Our crowd pleasers are songs that they don't even know, but gets the crowd dancing. I also like playing songs that people have forgotten about. We're not banger-button DJs, it's so easy to play Top 40 now.

Abdel Aziz: There are a lot of "go-to songs" for every given moment. Just like having Adobo on every household's menu, you place it on your weekly menu sparingly. You know when and how to serve the Adobo, right? Same goes for the iconic songs. Sometimes songs that you think will not work, will actually work in a certain moment. 

Manolet Dario: There are too many good tracks - whether old or new.

Where do you stand on "DJ requests"?

Manolet Dario: There's DJ etiquette, there's clubbing etiquette. The people who go to clubs, they would know that it's bawal to make any requests. In fact, it's bawal to approach the DJ. Even when you're behind the DJ, you need to wait for the DJ to turn around and converse with you, that's the only time you can talk to him or her.  

John Monreal: May nagpadala ng tissue. Nakalagay 'Cold Heart.'

Jason Soong: This is normal for me, but what ticks me off is when they ask once, they ask twice. It's like they're asking [for a song] as if the party is going bad. It's irritating when they get pushy when everyone is having a good time. 

Abdel Aziz: Song requests; it is a balancing act. I would take in requests as long as it fits the current vibe, mood, moment, and tempo. 

Playing in a club is different from playing at a festival. How do you plan to bring the Groove experience to this festival?

Abdel Aziz: We need to be prepared for the uncertainty. So if we see one group bobbing their heads, then you concentrate on them. You target another group of people as it builds up. It's not like a band, where people already know the songs you will play. In our case, it's really a give and take. We'll see as we go along, but of course, we'll play the best songs that we can offer.

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Jason Soong: We're just gonna do our thing. The Groove way. 

Manolet Dario: We just stick to our sound and read the crowd. Then we push the envelope.

Jason Soong: Some change their sound cause it's a crowdpleaser, but that's not how we do it.

Abzel Aziz: It's an easy way out - to play songs that everyone likes.

Manolet Dario: That's cheating.

Abdel Aziz: In a club, guests would come in with the idea of a club, dark, flashing light, tight, pumping music. In a festival setting (speaking for the local market), the crowd's idea of a festival is still somewhat all over the place. Since most locals experienced their "festival" during the height of EDM back in 2010-2015. EDM festivals locally came crashing down during the unfortunate deaths from [a certain] festival. Only a few really had a chance to experience festivals abroad. But we are getting there.

Where else would you want to play?

Abdel Aziz: Something like the Circle sets, notable landmarks around the world.

Jason Soong: On an island, sunset.

Manolet Dario: It's always different when you play outdoors. Because indoors, the music will always be a little bit darker; the fewer lights you have the darker. But outside, the vibe is so vibrant. The people that go—whether in Baguio or El Nido, their senses are more receptive. Their ears are more open, they're more relaxed.

What is the best—and worst—thing about being a DJ?

John Monreal: I get paid doing what I love. The afterparties. [Worst.] The hangovers.

Manolet Dario: Worst [is] after all these years, it's always gonna be the hours you put in. We're not spring chicken anymore. So the later you end, it gets a bit harder to recover.

Jason Soong: When we do these sets and we make fifty to a hundred people really dance and forget their problems. It's the least I could do. You uplift someone's spirits with music, that for me is the best part. Kahit anong problema mo, man, when you play, those two, three hours, you zone out. It's a break from the real world.

Abdel Aziz: Equally, everything. It's meditative in a way. Especially for songs that don't have lyrics. Then somewhere in between, you add a song with notable lyrics. You'll see how that flows.

Manolet Dario: I've always said that the Pinoys are hardest crowd to please. But if you can make the Pinoys dance, you can play anywhere in the world. Because Pinoys are so maarte, they feel like they're all VIPs,  they're djahe, they're shy. They're worried about what people will think and say. They'll think you're "pakawala." But actually, you're just there to enjoy yourself.

That's the difference between our culture and everyone else's. When they go to a club, they're there to dance and let go. I think we're one step closer. People are now facing the DJ. That means people are learning how to go clubbing.

Imagine people dancing to songs they don't know and people coming up to you to say they had a great night. That's a feather in your cap. 

Catch Groove Manila at Salo Salo Fest on Friday, 2 December 2022 at Enchanted Kingdom. Get tickets here.